Flexible matting or fabric.



No: 786,544. PATENTED APR. 4, 1905. A. S. BURNELL. FLEXIBLE MATTING 0RFABRIC.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.20. 1902.

UNITED STATES Patented April 4, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FLEXIBLE MATTING OR FABRIC.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 786,544, dated April4, 1905. Application filed December 20, 1902. Serial No. 186,058.

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. BURNELL, a resident of the city ofMarshalltown, in the county of Marshall and State of Iowa, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Matting or Fabric, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention designs to provide an improved flexible fabric or mattingformed of flat strips of metal which can be readily bent into shape andquickly and easily assembled and which when assembled provide a fabricor matting which is durable, flexible, and inexpensive.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafterdescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and moreparticularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a floor-mat embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective of one of the metal strips.Fig. 3 is a plan of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 4 is aperspective of the modified form of strip shown in Fig. 3.

The fabric or matting is composed of flat strips of metal A, bent toform two longitudinally-extending terminals a and a and a laterallyextending connecting portion a", which secures the terminals againstrelative displacement transversely and serves as atransversely-extendingscraping-surface. The strips are arranged inlongitudinal and transverse series, and the several transverse seriesare flexibly connected with the adjacent series by transverse rods B,which extend through the terminals of adjacent strips. Terminal 6/ ofeach strip is extended longitudinally and formed with a perforation anear the connecting portion and a perforation a near its free end, andterminal a is shorter and provided with a perforation o transverselyalined with perforation a of the longer terminal a. Rods B passalternately through perforations a and a of the terminals of onetransverse series of strips and through perforations a of the free endsof each of the long terminals of the adjacent series. When assembled,the strips position each other laterally, and the connecting portionsfit between the free ends of long terminals of the strips of theadjacent series. A border consisting of short strips C, having a portionthereof bent laterally and outwardly and having perforationswherethrough rods B pass, may be used, if desired. Heads 6 retain thestrips on the rods. Strips of this shape can be readily formed andassembled, are stout, and when assembled form a matting which isinexpensive, durable, simple, flexible, and which can withstand severelateral strain without breakage.

If desired, straight links 0 may be employed at one side and one end ofthe fabric to form a mat of symmetrical appearance.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 one terminal of eachstrip A has that portion between the connecting portion and its free endbent laterally, as at a and these bent portions are advantageous in someinstances because they form oppositely-inclined surfaces,which removematter from shoes, and because they form an irregular mesh whereinto theheel of a shoe cannot enter and which permits a somewhat larger mesh tobe employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Fabric or matting comprising a plurality of flat metal strips eachhaving a short longitudinally-extending terminal and a longlongitudinally-extending terminal, the short terminal being connected toadjacent strips, and the long terminal having both of its ends connectedto adjacent strips.

2. Fabric or matting comprisinga plurality of sections, and pivotsconnecting the sections, each section comprising a plurality of flatstrips of metal each bent to form a transverse bar, a shortlongitudinally-extending terminal through which one of the pivotsbetween adjacent sections passes, and a long terminal extendinglongitudinally from end to end of a section and pivotally connected ateach end with the adjacent sections.

3. Fabric or matting comprising a plurality l the ends of adjacentstrips at which the transof sections each comprising a plurality of flatverse bars are located and thereby secured strips of metal, each bent toform a transverse against lateral movement.

bar at one end of the section, a short longitu- ARTHUR S. BURNELL. 5dinally-extending terminal, and a long termi In presence ofnal, andpivots connecting the sections, the FRED GERLAOH,

long terminals of the strips beingheld between EMMA GERLAGH.

